Dark Clouds of Ambition

This historic romantic novel set in NSW and South Wales coalfields shows how personal ambition jeopardises family relationships. It is the story of Idris Evans from the Swansea Valley in Wales, who decides at seven years of age to become a mine manager. He achieves his goal in Australia in 1929 but realises he wants more. As a manager and owner he treads a fine line between unions, mine owners, banks, politicians and early WW2. The oncoming World War 2 drives the mechanisation of his mines. The self-interest of banks and politicians is mirrored in events today.

Before leaving Wales in 1921 Idris made two Love Spoons, both of which find a home in Australia. Which love prevails, or do both succumb to his driving ambition?

Allan Edgar is an author, engineer naturalist. He graduated in mining and metallurgy from Sydney University, has managed coal and metalliferous mines and quarries in Australia and Zambia, and designed and supplied black and brown coal, cement, wheat, quarrying, shiploading and air conditioning plants in Australia. He was a prominent sportsman in Wales and Australia representing NSW in 1947, has written plays, novels and short stories and co-wrote Wild Australia, a book of natural history. In 2015 he was awarded the Legion of Honour by the French Government for his service in RAF Coastal Command during WW2. In 2017 the Australian War Memorial installed a plaque for his comrades, the 2nd paragraph of which was supplied by Allan.